5 great ideas for a family reunion.
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash
It’s the time of year again when your family wants to know which activities will be included in your upcoming family reunion. If you’re trying to come up with ideas, consider the interests and hobbies of your relatives. Think about whether your family members would prefer to relax during the reunion or engage in action-packed excursions? Here are some great location ideas for a family reunion that will make the occasion especially memorable.
A place for water fun
If you’re looking for some fun in the sun consider a beach location or a lake destination where everyone can enjoy the water. If your family is a little more daring you might even consider white water rafting in California. Whether you’ve been rafting before or you’re trying it for the first time, there are a multitude of guided rafting tours for you to try.
Another option to consider is making arrangements with your local water park to reserve the park for all or part of the day so you and your loved ones can swim, go on water slides, sunbathe and enjoy a meal together in a safe, closed setting.
A place for outdoor adventure
If your family loves being outdoors, you can plan your family reunion around outdoor adventures. Select a campground in a central location so that no one will have to travel too far to get to the reunion site. Create a schedule of events for your relatives to enjoy while camping, such as canoeing, hiking, or gathering around the campfire for a singalong. If you prefer not to spend the night outdoors, you can book a daytime outdoor activity like rock climbing or a trip to a botanical garden.
A place for being pampered
A family reunion with a spa theme is ideal for relatives who like to be pampered and want to use part of the family reunion as much-needed vacation time. A spa-style resort that accommodates large groups is a great choice. In addition to spacious, comfortable rooms, you and your family can enjoy facials, massages, and customized beauty treatments. Be sure to look for a resort that offers activities for children and childcare services to ensure every member of the family enjoys the reunion. You’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated while you get the chance to spend some quality time together.
A place for learning and inspiration
If you and your family want to learn more about your history, plan this year’s family reunion with education and inspiration in mind. Purchase tickets for a museum that has cultural or ethnic significance for your family. For instance, if you have Colonial American heritage in your family you can purchase tickets for a museum in or near the same city as the reunion. You can look through the artwork, exhibits, and artifacts that give you insight into your heritage. If you have a family historian, ask him/her to collect photographs and documents about your family and present them during the reunion. You can reserve a restaurant or event center so you can make the presentation during dinner and/or cocktails. It’s also a good idea to ask an older member of the family and a younger member of the family to capture photos and videos from this year’s reunion. Showcase the footage at the next family gathering so your relatives can see how the family is viewed from the perspective of different generations.
A place for nostalgia and tradition
The goal of family reunions is to remind relatives of their connection to each other while instilling a sense of family pride. You can make the family reunion especially nostalgic by hosting the event in the hometown of one of the family’s elders. For instance, if the home of a grandparent or great grandparent is still in the family, you can host the majority of family reunion events there. Create a picnic and play space in the yard of the home if indoor space is limited. You can also ask your grandparents and great aunts and uncles about local landmarks to visit. The elder members of your family will likely enjoy showing you the restaurant where they had their first date, the site of their first job or the hospital where several family members were born.
A family reunion is also a wonderful time to start new traditions. Get input from relatives of varying age groups to come up with a location and activities that will be meaningful for your family members for years to come.